Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-09-14


continue their conversation.
"Ton, you've got your initials cut
on that corner, now cut my name IN
full in the center of this stone," said
Bimley.
Tom looked at him for g. moment
sharply, and seemed to discover some
thing in the mans tones or looks.
"Pshaw what do you want to ad-
vertise yourself In that way for?"
GAIL right; If you don't do it I'll get
some one else to cut them for me-"
replied Bimley, in an unsteady voice.
Just tnen Kate passed the barn on
her way to the spring, casting an anx-
ious look at her father as she passed.
"God pity that poor motherless
girl when Pm gone
Bimley uttered these words in low
tone, half to himself; but I caught
them, though think Tom did nou, as
he was busily pounding away in the
little farther off.
But Tom had evidently been think
ing OF Bimley's request and the prob
able motive. He finished his work,
and, facing his brother-in-law, said:
"See here, John, I'll cut your name
or you on one condition, and that is
hat you will stop moping and brood
n.y."
agreed" said the elder man, but 1
detected q cynical smile on his face
that contradicted his asserting mood.
Having nothing else to busy him
self with, Tom proceeded to mark out
the design for this memorial tablet at
once, and his skill surprised me when
/ examined his lesser work in the corn
er, now completed.
Bimley, apparently satisfied that
he had gained his point, went off
toward the lake in a listless, moody
sort of way.
Kate suddenly appeared around an
angle of the barn and said:
"Uncle Tom, don't put the name on
the rock Don't pleased"
There was real terror in her tones
that startled Tom into examining her
face. 1t was blanched, and her lip
ouivered as she stood there with one
deprecating hand raised.
"Why not?" demanded Tom, sur
prised.
ooh! I can't tell you. But please
don't cut the name there!"
'But I've promised | would, and
John will he furious if l refuse now"
"Well," said the girl, sadly turning
away, perhaps you're right"
From Tom now learned the cause
of Bimley's depression. It seems he
was soon to leave his farm-driven
out by the inexorable mortgage.
Failure to meet his payments of inter
est, short crops and a combination of
misfortunes had eliminated in the
loss of the property.
My heart ached as I looked after
this motherless girl, left not only DESC
late by the withdrawal of mothers
loving care, but left also with the fear
full burden of g. fathers living, double
sorrow pressing very heavily upon
her young shoulders, and yelling her
youthful face with premature sadness.
High up on one Of the verdure-clad
foothills l saw the bowed figure of
John Bimley. He paused at the top,
and, looking back with one searching
glance, he disappeared down the fur
Their side. | was about turning my
attention to the carver's work near
me, when saw the form of Kate pass
swiftly and noiselessly out of the
underground at the top of the hill, and
also pass out of sight down the other
side.
"John's guardian angel" said Tom
Elkins, without stopping the thuds of
his mallet, in reply, apparently, to my
questioning look, turned upon him.
"John's terribly down in the mouth
since Mary died." he continued, aim
ing some heavy blows at the bright
steel chisei for deeper cut. 81 think
he takes on more about Mary than he
does about the farm
It was clear enough now. The girls
repugnance to having her fathers
name cut in the rock; her constant
solicitude about him; her stealthy pur-
suit of him over the hill. She read
more in his eye and his silence than
Tom Elkins did in his short sentences.
Life was burden to him, and not
even the strong cord of Kate's love
would be able to bind him to earth
for long.
That same afternoon John Bimley
viewed Toms nearly completed work
in the center of the fat rock. He
smiled sadly as ne saiG:
''Tom, put the date underneath it."
It seemed to draw on Toms mind
that his brother-in-)aw meant this
work to be g. posthumous tablet-a
gravestone.
"See here, john" he said, jumping
up and laying hand on lis arm,
"you have no call to be brooding
about your grave yet. I'd chip out
the whole business if Thought"
mo, no, don't do thst!' said
Bimley, forcing q laugh. 81 was jok-
ing. Say, Tom," he said, suddenly
changing in tone and looks, ''if any
thing should happen to me-you know
what [ meant want you to take
care of my girl" His voice was
broken and scarcely audible, and his
hand trembled violently as he grasped
the one extended to him by Tom
Elkins. "Now promise me that" he
added with his whole soul in the
words.
$50 help me heaven, I swear It'll"
said Tom, wringing the hand he held.